One of my favourite things to do in small towns across Alberta is explore their local downtown shops.
In the Town of Whitecourt, located less than 2 hours drive north west of Edmonton, you’ll find a really lovely downtown teeming with local shops well worth your visit.
In fact, 96% of all businesses in Whitecourt is considered a small business! That means a lot of unique retail stores, services, and stories to experience. You’re very likely to run into the store owner (the beauty of small towns) who are all very happy to chat and help you find the perfect keepsake to remember your Whitecourt trip by. I love meeting small business owners to see firsthand their passion for what they do and why they do it, and I love coming home with a special piece of clothing, earrings, or other accessories that remind me of my adventure in the towns I visit, like Whitecourt!
As we all look to explore and spend our dollars in Canada this year especially, planning a local shopping-focused getaway to one of the best little downtowns in the province should be top of your summer list. That’s what I did!
This summer I teamed up with ZenSeekers and Tourism Whitecourt to explore and share my Whitecourt experience.
Make Whitecourt in north west Alberta your easy, fun and memorable getaway destination!
Yes shopping, but there’s also some dining, outdoor adventure, and more activities well-worth planning a full weekend escape to. Use this shopping guide and check out more Whitecourt exploration suggestions to help plan your itinerary.
Find more Whitecourt exploration suggestions:
#ExploreWhitecourt: Local Shopping Guide to the Town of Whitecourt in North West Alberta
(listed in alphabetical order by section)
Suggestions at a glance:
- Shopping
- Beaver Creek General Store
- Just Peachy Arts and Crafts
- Lather Lagoon & The Book Nook
- Whatever Works – Crystals, Crafts, Counselling and more
- White Wall Handmade
- Food and Drink
- The Garage Brewhouse and Pub
- Tap-Cha Bubble Tea and Cafe and Mary’s Kitchen
- Attractions
- Festival Park
- Accommodations
- Brooke’s Creek Camping & Mini Golf
Here’s just a few of the many great local shops you can explore in Downtown Whitecourt:
Beaver Creek General Store
5007 49 St, Whitecourt, AB T7S 1N7
The whole family will love exploring the iconic Beaver Creek General Store in downtown Whitecourt.
Celebrating their 30th anniversary this 2025, the Beaver Creek General Store is an all-purpose gift, decor, garden store (and more), located in the heart of downtown Whitecourt.
They are most famously known for the freshly ground coffee smell when you walk through the door, as well as their housemade fudge and bearclaws. The store is warm and inviting, and maybe even a bit overwhelming at first—there’s a LOT stocking the shelves and ceilings! You have to make sure to look up, down, to the side, and all around, to ensure you don’t miss anything.
This store is as much for local gift shopping as it is a cafe stop. You can’t leave without their housemade fudge and bearclaws (I grabbed some as take home gifts), or their in-house Italian sodas and milk shakes they offer during the summer. You’re invited to sit on the store’s veranda and enjoy scoops of gourmet Foothills Creamery ice cream (this was so nice to do! Perfect summer moment).
There’s also an extensive chocolate collection to shop from.
Owner Nancy stocks most of the store with Canadian companies.
Don’t miss the garden centre in the back!
Just Peachy Arts and Crafts
5014 50 St, Whitecourt, AB T7S 1N5
At Just Peachy Arts & Crafts, owner Sandy (who is a talented clay artist herself!) carries handmade items from more than 90 local vendors.
From artfully crafted wooden pieces to handsewn skirts, upcycled kids clothes to 3D printed goodies, there’s something for everyone at Just Peachy, including art classes you might want to line up with your visit!
“I want to promote the local creative spirit,” owner Sandy tells me. She’s doing this by providing a space for creatives—including youth artists—to showcase and sell. I think that’s really special!
Here I picked up 3D-printed earrings as a gift for a friend here, another set of earrings for myself, and a cute surprise date night idea bag gift with locally engraved wood pieces for my husband and I.
Lather Lagoon & The Book Nook
5111 50 St, Whitecourt, AB T7S 1V4
A soap AND book store all in one? You won’t find another family-run shop quite like this one anywhere else but in Whitecourt.
Mom Kathie Millett runs the book shop while daughter Tammy Rivard makes the wonderfully-scented soaps. The new store opened March 2025 and is described as earthy meets edgy, handmade meets mind-expanding. I love smelling soaps to find the perfect scents to take home!
The bookstore carries new books and book gifts including “date night with a book” surprise book packages which I love. I was also happy to pick up a copy of Lessons from Cats for Surviving Fascism by Canadian author Stewart Reynolds (who I’ve interviewed before, see our Q&A here).
Lather Lagoon & The Book Nook is the town’s first book store in at least the 16 years since the family moved to town and has already become a destination for book lovers all around the region.
Whatever Works – Crystals, Crafts, Counselling and more
4919 51 Ave, Whitecourt, AB T7S 1V4
Owner Amy Godderis’ metaphysical products store in downtown Whitecourt is packed with all sorts of crystals, incense and a ton of good energy. There’s a crystal that speaks to everyone here, including unique shapes, figurines, and even crystal crowns! I was really obsessed with the crowns and even picked one up for myself (hello birthday crown!)
This July 2025 marks six years running the crystal shop.
Amy tells me she’s overjoyed with the support she’s received. “The crazy and amazing part about my shop is that it’s so specialized. So to be in a town of 10,000 and to be a success is amazing.” She’s hoping to do more online selling, as well as bring in more tourists (hello, that’s you and me!)
When you pop in, ask Amy about which crystals might work for what you’re looking for, she’s truly an expert! (or just pick up something pretty).
White Wall Handmade
4911 51 Ave, Whitecourt, AB T7S 1V4
Decalled on their storefront window you’ll find White Wall owner Ashley Heinrich’s mission, to support movers and shakers, women makers, fair trade and handmade.
The bright and spacious shop specializes in aesthetic gifts, clothing, kids, decor and more!
Crocheted duck stuffed animals and whimsical bee hats to trendy kids life jackets and an assortment of western-themed clothing filled the shop during my visit.
I was really happy to pick up a cute yellow bee hat at White Wall.
A few Whitecourt food and drink options!
(listed in alphabetical order by section)
The Garage Brewhouse and Pub
5015 50 Ave, Whitecourt, AB T7S 1N7
You’re guaranteed a fun time at the family-friendly The Garage Brewhouse and Pub (5015 50 Ave, Whitecourt, AB T7S 1N7), an automotive-themed craft brewery located in a former autobody garage.
I got a preview of this unique brewery, where you’ll find vintage full size cars, hoods, and bumpers hanging all over as decor. In the bathrooms there are toolbox counters and wrench stall hooks. There are working street lights from the 1920s and 1960s, where red means closed, yellow means last call, and green means open. Also vintage license plates, gear chandeliers, and old gas and diesel barrels have been repurposed for beer on tap. Don’t miss the Excalibur-like wrench in stone piece by the door you can attempt to pull out—and more really fun details!
Head brewer Matthew Cockle likes to play around with different bittering agents to beer so eventually you’ll be able to find some of his experiments at this brewery but to launch this summer, Cockle and his team will start with some well-executed classics before playing around more and seeing what the market (locals) wants.
I also met Nikita Vinnykov, the front of house manager who is really excited to be part of the team building this special brewery and community space in downtown Whitecourt. When The Garage Brewhouse and Pub opens (tentatively set for July 31, 2025), it will be the biggest brewery in town.
The Garage Brewhouse and Pub decor and interior was definitely unlike any other brewery I’ve ever been to. I really love how much love and attention to detail the team has poured into this space and I can’t wait to return when they open end of July / early August 2025.
Tap-Cha Bubble Tea and Cafe and Mary’s Kitchen
4924 51 Ave, Whitecourt, AB T7S 1V4
When in downtown Whitecourt, pop into Tap-Cha Bubble Tea and Cafe and Mary’s Kitchen, the town’s only dedicated bubble tea shop. Choose from milk teas, fresh fruit teas, smoothies, special mixes, lemonades or refreshing Filipino desserts like Halo-Halo. Co-owner Mary also handmakes steamed buns, dumplings, spring rolls and operates a small Asian grocery inside the cafe.
PLUS: Festival Park, a must stop for the family
Did you know: Whitecourt is home to one of the best parks in the province? Locals tell me it *is* the best park. You’ll have to experience it for yourself!
Festival Park is a free, family-friendly gem of the community located near downtown Whitecourt.
At Festival Park, plan to:
- Bring a tube to enjoy the Whitecourt River Slides—a lazy river with two man-made creeks and a series of pools and drops
- Play at an impressive splash park with giant water-dumping bucket
- Climb a playground that holds the title of tallest outdoor playground structure in Alberta
- Fish in the pond
- Jump on a giant Jumbo Jumper pillow (it’s for all ages!)
- … and more!
It’s quite common to pitch a tent up on the green space at Festival Park to set up for a full day of play and access to the many free amenities found here. Soak up the sun and splash at Whitecourt!
When we return later this summer, that’s what we plan to do at Festival Park!!
And for accommodations…
Consider staying and playing at Brooke’s Creek Camping & Mini Golf.
This local family-owned and operated campground and recreation station in Whitecourt includes an 18-hole outdoor mini golf course and a 54-site partially serviced, intimate campground.
I haven’t yet myself, but I have it on good authority that Brooke’s Creek Camping & Mini Golf is a wonderful place to stay for your north west Alberta adventures in Whitecourt.
Owner Amanda Pauze tells me she started this business because she loves connecting with people who are looking for adventure, to have a good time and just looking to get away from their daily grind. “I get most fired up when I see people enjoying themselves on the property and just having a great time,” Pauze says. Stay, play and enjoy!!
—
That’s really just a few of the local gems you can experience in the lovely Town of Whitecourt.
This was my first time visiting and it certainly won’t be my last.
I always love hearing from readers and followers about what their favourite stops are in different Alberta towns too—so let me know what you’d recommend in the post comments!
Don’t forget to use this trail map app to explore Whitcourt’s outdoor spaces! Did you know: Whitecourt has 485 kilometres of trails connecting to rivers and more scenic views, consider hiking the stunning Hard Luck Canyon, just 20-minutes from town, or experience McLeod River Tubing outside of Whitecourt.
Watch the How to weekend in Whitecourt video from ZenSeekers:
And find more Whitecourt exploration suggestions to plan your weekend getaway:
Thanks to ZenSeekers and Tourism Whitecourt for supporting my small business by working with me to produce this Travel Guide + Whitecourt, Alberta travel content.
This partnership does not affect my views & recommendations.
Linda
- Follow @lindork on Twitter
- Follow @lindork on Instagram
- Like Lindork – Linda Hoang on Facebook
- Follow @lindork on TikTok
- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
If you live or work in the Edmonton, Alberta area, or care about Edmonton content, sign up for my hyperlocal newsletter to get weekly recommendations on things to do, eat, and know this week (in the Edmonton area), plus more exclusive content. You can sign up for a free or paid subscription.
SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER
(You’ll get the option to select free or paid after you enter your email).
